Srinagar, 06-Dec;Kashmir Artisans Rehabilitation Forum has expressed serious concern over the tie up of Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) Khadi Institutions from Varanasi & Ghazipur for processing Raw Pashmina wool.In a statement issued, Parvez Bhat president ARF (Artisans Rehabilitation Forum ) said with this initiative that the Pashmina wool products of Leh-Ladakh and Jammu & Kashmir, will now be woven in Varanasi which will affect the livelihood of many artisans from Kashmir and Ladakh.This is a delicate art, unique and indigenous with Kashmir and skilling outside J&K artisans with the art will have severe consequences on its originality and also affect local numerous communities.ARF has urged LG administration to prevail upon the KVIC for reconsidering the decision.Moreover this sort of KVIC tie up will affect the entire pashmina industry badly. “Our lakhs of families associated with Sozni , weaving, dehiring, Spinning, Naqashi , washing ,Dyeing , finishing , stockiest , whole-sellers, retailers and exporters are at greater threat of losing their livelihood”, statement read. The huge quantity of raw wool export will hit our industry and needs to be processed in Leh and Kashmir only to boost our own trade and help artisans. We appeal LG of Ladakh and LG of J&K to immediately look into the matter and save the industryKPO demanded that the eviction order should be immediately kept in abeyance.(CNS)
